Barclays and Cranfield lead the way with first UK bank Master's Apprenticeship

Published 26 Feb 2018

Press release number PR-SOM-18-21

Cranfield University has partnered with Barclays to launch a Master’s Apprenticeship in Leadership, making the bank the first of its kind to offer this level of apprenticeship.

The master’s-level apprenticeship will see an initial intake of 30 Barclays employees study for an MSc in Business and Strategic Leadership. The two-year scheme will allow candidates to gain a master’s-level qualification whilst working and earning, to help further their career, increase potential earning power and become future leaders within the business.

Professor Lynette Ryals, Director of Cranfield School of Management, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to partner Barclays on its master’s-level apprenticeship. At Cranfield, we pride ourselves on staying close to business, both by preparing our students for the world of work, and through working closely with world-renowned organisations to tailor our educational offering to their specific needs.

“As the first University to offer master’s-level apprenticeships, Cranfield is once again leading the way, in partnership with Barclays, to provide the first postgraduate apprenticeship for the banking sector.”

Mike Thompson, Head of Apprenticeships for Barclays comments: “We’re thrilled to be the first UK bank to offer apprentices the chance to undertake a master’s degree, whilst continuing the great work they do at Barclays.”

“The apprenticeship will allow candidates to gain a master’s-level qualification whilst continuing to apply the skills and knowledge learned in a workplace environment. On top of this, the scheme will enable us to create senior leaders of the future and make these positions within the business more accessible to people who may not have previously had the opportunity. Furthermore, our apprentices will be able to continue earning whilst they learn without incurring the debt traditionally associated with a master’s degree, opening up postgraduate education to a people from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.”

As well as working on modules such as Organisational Behaviour, Strategy and Finance, apprentices will be able to learn vital on-the job skills that will equip them for senior leadership roles within various sectors of the business. Additionally, apprentices who successfully complete the programme will achieve CMI Chartered Fellow Status.

About Cranfield University

Cranfield has been a world leader in management education and research for over 50 years, helping individuals and organisations learn and succeed by transforming knowledge into action. We are dedicated to creating responsible management thinking, improving business performance and inspiring the next generation of business leaders. We work to change the lives of our students and executives by encouraging innovation and creative thinking, as well as the drive to succeed and make a real impact on their organisations.

Organisations as diverse as Jaguar Land Rover, BAE Systems, Royal Dutch Shell, L’Oréal, UNICEF and the African Development Bank have benefited from our work, which ranges from management research projects, through staff talent management development on our MBA courses, to customised executive programmes.

Cranfield is one of an elite group of Schools worldwide to hold the triple accreditation of: AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) and AMBA (the Association of MBAs).

We are in the Top 10 International Business Schools in the Forbes’ ranking.

Our open and customised executive education programmes are ranked in the top five in the UK, according to the latest Financial Times survey, and in the top ten in the world for international reach. Over 10,000 people come to Cranfield each year to benefit from our executive and professional development programmes.